Excellent location,
budget-friendly Vigan Hotel is located at the back of the cathedral and less
than a minute walk to Calle Crisologo, Plaza Salecedo and Burgos and a leisure
walk to most sights in Vigan’s heritage village. The hotel is one of those 18th
century old Spanish era wooden house. Has
various type of rooms and suties, I stayed at their economy room, non-aircon, shared
bath, very simple with TV and electric fan.
May have been one of the maid’s quarter during the time when it was
still a private mansion, somehow I’m getting this prin cell feel to it, maybe
because of the small window right at the opposite end of the door. Don’t get me wrong, for the price I paid,
perfect location, a private room with wifi connectivity? I would definitely stay there again.

Socio Pastoral Center is one of the real budget accommodation in
Vigan along with Vigan Hotel (where I’ve stayed). Room at P400/night. But they have a curfew, so you have to be in
before 9:00pm and they’re close during the weekend, so you can only stay there
during the weekdays.

Located at the back of
the Archbishop Palace. Call Luz at
09197178382.

There are so many other
hotels, inns and guesthouses in Vigan, staying right at the Mestizo District (Calle
Crisologo & Plaridel) is a great experience in itself, sleeping at one of
the old spanish wooden mansions. If you
can afford to stay at one of them, below are some options.

Manila – Vigan. Many provincial buses ply the Manila – Vigan route
- Partas Bus, Dominion Bus, Aniceto Bus,
Viron Transit. Bus terminals in the
capital city are either in Pasay, Cubao or Manila. Better to call the bus company to find out
the nearest to you. Travel time is 7 - 8 hours. Bring sweatshirt or jackets and wear pants as
it can get really cold at night inside the bus.

Laoag – Vigan. Either take the airconditioned Partas bus, more comfort, or the non-aircon
buses at Lagasca Street at the back of Laoag City Hall, fare is P100, longer
travel time (about 3 hours) and not realiable, they dropped me halfway to Vigan
as I was the only passenger left, so I’ve to wait for the next bus.

Getting
Around:

The bus I took from Laoag
to Vigan dropped us right at the road infront of Salcedo Plaza, so transport
not require, I walked to my hotel.

Tricycle fare in Vigan
costs P10, even from the heritage village to Bantay bell tower. Hail a tricycle passing along the road, avoid
the parked ones as they normally will charge you a bit more. It pays to be having the exact amount for the
fare on your pocket to avoid getting overcharged.

Calesa (horse-drawn
carriage) are plenty and plying along Calle Crisologo for that authentic
old-fashioned charming tour, pay P150 for an hour tour.

On-foot – Vigan Heritage
Village or Mestizo Street or Calle Crisologo and all the beautiful plazas and
museums are all within short walking distance. So walk…walk…walk.

If in doubt, negotiate
before jumping in.

Where to
Eat:

Plaza Burgos Food Court - A food trip in Vigan will not be complete if
you don’t sample the variety of food fare at any of the stalls at the Plaza Burgos
food court. Located at one of the sides
of Plaza Burgos, adjacent to McDonalds.

I’m a sucker for street food and food courts, fine dining is good of
course through someone else’s invitation!

Empanada (P30) here is less orange in color compared to Laoag’s, and
the Okoy (crispy shrimp fritters, P30) is salaciously delicious. Both can be filling.

Sinanglao (soup made from beef innards) did not appeal much to my taste
buds. It’s just what it is – beef
innards or some tough rubbery portion of meat which of course I cannot chomp
on. I tried it one morning and ended up
taking my breakfast at McDonalds.

Address: Plaza Burgos.

Jollibee – Filipino version of McDonalds. Open 7:00 am – 11:00 pm

Located right beside
Plaza Salcedo. Tel. +63 77 722 5555

McDonalds - I like McD’s when they’re beside a nice
plaza or parks. Brewed coffee is even
better than Starbucks at P35 only.

Located right at the
entrance of Crisologo Street, beside Max’s Fried Chicken and the Tourist
Information Office.

Max’s Restaurant located right at the entrance of Crisologo Street.

Where to
buy:

Antiques and souvenir
shops line the length of Crisologo Street (Mestizo Street), in fact almost all
the houses along this street have shops on the ground level selling wooden
carvings, antique statuettes, shirts, key chains, bags, all souvenir stuff.

Two Brothers Grocery –
big supermarket for your grocery items, at the back of the city hall.

2 Quezon Avenue,
Barangay 1, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

JTC Supermarket –
groceries.

Calle Crisologo
(Bonifacio St.), 2700 Vigan

Tongson Bibingka Royal
– delicious chewy Royal Bibingka, bagnet, and other “pasalubongs” at very
affordable price. Located beside Vigan
Plaza Hotel at the corner of Calle Crisologo and Florentino, just before the
Tourist Information Center and Café Leona.